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Malachite Box is a great tomato.I have been de- seeding Melon Liqueur a tomato that thinks it's a mango . Flavour wise this season Honey Bubbles is joyous .
Is it me or is this page covered in chicken fillets ?

Just over two years ago I was generously sent several varieties of tomato seed by Jeannine who lives in Canada and who used to be a very active member of A4A and contributor to seed parcels. I donated a couple of varieties last year which I'd grown from her seed and this year hope to contribute three more. At that time she was interested in varieties with large or unusually shaped fruit.

I'd very much like her varieties to be grown on in Europe as I know this is what she would want. This year I'm saving seed of Buratino, Mushroom Basket and Vintage Wine to put in the seed circle.

Another seed circle tomato report. I happen by. Hance to be growing several varieties with large fruit this year. But so far Vetivert 's Jazz has carried the record for the very largest. I've never seen a tomato as large by quite a long way!

Quote from: galina on August 04, 2026, 17:01:34A few photos of some of the things I hope to contribute.  The squashes shown are handpollinated and growing. 

First two are Old Timey Cornfield Pumpkin from George McLaughlin via Vetivert who kindly shared her packet with me, a cucurbita moschata with superior storing properties, not just into winter but still storing when the new plants are growing in spring.  The last photo is showing the 3 from last year which shortly afterwards turned fully yellow beige as their storage colour.

Wonderful! so glad you have had success with these 

Quote from: galina on August 06, 2026, 18:55:24And a third bean.  This one from Dutch seed saver Jaap Vlaming.  Musje Eikes, which apparently mean sparrow's egg. No! that can't be right said another Dutchman, it is Musseneitjes for sparrow's egg.  Ok, but I still have the original seed envelope with that spelling.  Then a third Dutch seedsaver helpfully came along and insisted it is the wrong bean, because the seed does not resemble a sparrow's egg and it must have been misnamed altogether.  Well there is nothing worse than a bean with a doubtful history, especially such a really good bean which is  thriving in this heat.  I have also grown this bean several times in England and it liked cooler, damper summers just the same.  So I can happily recommend it as a good bean for the circle, never mind its doubtful naming and history.

 

Do they look like these? https://winkel.detuinenvanweldadigheid.nl/products/stamdroogboon-musseneitjes

Quote from: Multiveg on August 07, 2026, 22:28:36Friar's Hat is also called Bishop's Crown.

Will take pictures when ripe...

Ah, Bishop'sCrown I know. I'm growing it too this year.

Friar's Hat is also called Bishop's Crown.

Will take pictures when ripe...

Thanks for the link.  Very interesting  

Friar's Hat is a new one for me. Any photos?

Great contributions, Galina. And wonderful to have the photos and the full histories, including the confusing ones!

And a third bean.  This one from Dutch seed saver Jaap Vlaming.  Musje Eikes, which apparently mean sparrow's egg. No! that can't be right said another Dutchman, it is Musseneitjes for sparrow's egg.  Ok, but I still have the original seed envelope with that spelling.  Then a third Dutch seedsaver helpfully came along and insisted it is the wrong bean, because the seed does not resemble a sparrow's egg and it must have been misnamed altogether.  Well there is nothing worse than a bean with a doubtful history, especially such a really good bean which is  thriving in this heat.  I have also grown this bean several times in England and it liked cooler, damper summers just the same.  So I can happily recommend it as a good bean for the circle, never mind its doubtful naming and history.